Jessica's Birthday Quilt

Here's the first leg of the quilt I'm making Jessica for her birthday which is actually tomorrow, but which I have a couple of days to finish because I won't see her until the weekend! I'm actually just going to tie it and not quilt it. It's going to be a lap quilt. She loves these colors. Thought I would share it with you.
Actually, this is my first attempt at applique. I just fused it. And, I don't think you could get me to do alot of it ever again unless I was designing my own, in which case I wouldn't make those itsy bitsy pieces!! :[

After this one, I'm on to making a couple of baby quilts for my new grandson, Jack, who is expected the end of October. So, I'll share those as they progress.

Speaking of quilts, you should check out Carissa's blog for some that she's stitching! And, Kim also quilts some very interesting designs. See their blogs on my sidebar, please.

If anyone else quilts, please identify yourselves to us! I'm very interested in seeing your things. And, if anyone of you could start a quilt block sharing group....I'd love to belong!

Hugs, and happy stitching, and please keep talking to me through your comments!!
Deb

Have to Have This

I just saw this beautiful piece from Midsummer Nights Designs and I have to have it! It has all the elements that I love: Bible verses, a mixture of pastels and deeper colors, angels, lambs, little people, not so dominant a border...etc.. And, it's a big project, which tends to draw me, as well, because I don't like to do anything in a small way, I suppose. Darn it!! :{

Brookes Books also is coming out with a darling new angel for the holidays. Here she is, "The Spirit of Christmas." Brooke hasn't named her officially, yet. She's accepting suggestions on her Board. She's a really fabulous person. And, she's working on another little belle, who will be "The Spirit of Snow." I just adore all of Brooke's girls!

Then, I want to express my deepest appreciation for the generosity of friends. This week, I was so delighted to receive from Nicole a bunch of the Whitman's tins!! Now I can make little stitching kits for my DD, and my granddaughter! Thank you so much, Nicole. And, she sent me a Hershey's tin in the shape of the famous "kiss," which I didn't know existed. I love it, too.

Deb in CT sent me a chart I have been wishing for for soooo long a time, and she always sends me things. We've been friends for some years now and I continue to cherish her friendship.

Then, Deb in MO, sent me a darling Shepherd's Bush chart which I've been wanting! Thank you so much, Deb!! You can't believe how that little sheep cheered me today! Shepherd's Bush is a company that has always touched my heart and reminds me of when my children were little people. I miss my little children, though I'm glad they're grown now...don't get me wrong!! LOL Deb, you are the greatest!! Thank you so much.

I've decided that stitching has kept me pulled together this summer along with stitching friends. It's really amazing. I was at a wonderful EGA meeting the other night, see details on Martha's ..."Gone Stitchin' Instead of Just a Wishin' " blog on the sideline... and it was so refreshing to be with other needleworking crazed women! I came home and told my DH, "Those women were really serious about stitching!" He said, "MmmHmmm, you all are!" It made me stop dead in my steps and think...he meant me...and I am. And so are you, my stitching friends. And, I'm so glad you are!

Happiness is to be found in the repetitve, soul-soothing motion of stitching a treasure which captures not only a verse or image we love, but a piece of our spirit, a slice of our life's segment in time, be it a peaceful or a hard time. It's a reflection and a memorykeeper for us just as surely as an image captured by a camera. The "beautiful, fragile moments" that only we can "see."

Sending many hugs, and love,
Deb

Taking a New Inventory of WIPs

Have to take a new look at what on earth I'm doing with my WIPs! I've been off the rails all summer with personal issues, and my stitching has really suffered for it. So, now I'm just going to take the opportunity to think aloud:

What I have closest to me on my chaise, thus blocking all personal contact:

1) Neighborhood RR - Wendy's piece

2) HAED RR - Jan & Lyns

3) Chatelaine Designs - Taj Mahal

4) Fair & Square - Monique

WIPs blocking anyone from getting near me on the rest of the sectional sofa:

1) Mermaid of the Pearls - for my daughter, Jessica

2) CHS - Houses of Hawks...

3) Chatelaine Designs - Convent Herbal Garden

4) Chatelaine Designs - White Nights of St. Petersburg

5) Colonial Coverlet Sampler Set

6) GPA - Nautical Journey (Sanibel Island)

On the floor frame in rotation, blocking my stitching room door:

1) And They Sinned

2) Matisse - Woman in the Red Room - Needlepoint

Stitched, waiting to be finished:

1) Pumpkin Bloosom - mailart for Aniza

2) Elizabethan biscornu

3) Chatelaine Designs - Mystery tryout needleroll

Bearly started and dying to work on:

1) Ackworth School - Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler

2) Cirque des Cercles

Nearly finished, and needing attention:

1) Hester's Needle - (Sampler for my DH....) "Alone With You"

Things I really want to start but am afraid will just get lost in my WIPs:

1) GPA - Queen of the Fairies

2) French Names Sampler (Custom made by Elegant Stitch years ago~!)

3) A Merry Cox stitching tools piece

4) A Whitmans Sampler stitching smalls for the tins

5) A Brightneedle "girly" pieces as seen below

6) Some Prairie Schooler santas

7) Blackbird Designs anything!

8) Playful Day Necessaire

9) Feed My Soul in Stitches

French Freebie Marquoirs

I may be the last stitcher on earth to know about this sampler, but I just found it tonight and I love it! For those of you who don't have it, it's an on-going freebie marquoir and here's the addy: http://www.annickabrial.com/marquoir.htm
It's full name is Le Marquoir (The Sampler) "Il e'tait une fois..." something. You have to go to the site to get the full name. And, I wish Isabelle, Helen, Su, or somebody else who can translate would go there and help me out with more information!! As you can see, we only have 10 parts so far, and the others will be coming. I love the medieval theme.

I'm in the French Sampler SAL group online and we're working another of the freebie Marquoirs. It's just unbelievable how beautiful these samplers are in monochromatic, too.

Aren't you continuously struck by how generous and creative the French are with their stitchery?! I'm thinking we Americans are lagging behind in this department. Maybe we should take one month this year and do something about it!!

Other than all of the above....I want to send out hugs and thank yous to all of you who continue to make my days very special with your comments, notes and emails. You are truly the best of friends and I love that we can keep up with eachother this way. I'm here if you want to "chat."

To those who are taking "time out" and are now just reading and maybe not commenting....we are thinking of you, we understand, and we miss you. Good thoughts and hugs coming your way!!

Deb in FL

Back in the Hospital

I'm so blessed to have Patti (Tapestry of Dreams) as my friend. She and I keep up via emails and I can't believe that she RAKed me today with this very pretty fob and Stitcher's Friend! Many of you know Patti as the organizer of the Mailart Group...she's an American transplanted to England. And, she's so generous and open-hearted. Thank you so much, Patti, for cheering me up and making my day!!

BTW, I was back in the hospital this weekend with what they think is trouble with my mitral valve. I think it's probably stress related. But, I'm following up with a cardiologist...and taking it easy. I feel sort of tired, but not too tired to stitch!! LOL

I'm visiting your blogs and sending emails, and sneaking some RAKs out, myself!

Hugs to all, and thank you so much for your comments and notes...I check every day to see if you're there. Deb

Summer Stitching

I'm so happy to show you the progress of my HAED RR...that is, my personal piece as it's making the circle of my friends. It's first picture is completed by my friend, Ruth, from Germany. It's the face of "Splash" by S. Fenech, who also designed "Storykeeper."

Can't wait to show you my completed piece once it gets back to me, and I finish the overall design that I have planned for it. I'm going to add the entire "Storykeeper" to mine to finish it. This fabric that I chose is handdyed and I just love how it is looking!

There are more mermaids, fairies and an elf or two coming on my piece!

Hugs,
Deb

Deb's Bazaar....Wanna Play???

Here are some duplicate charts from my stash, which I'm trying to organize. I wonder if we could do some exchanging or trades?

These charts have never been used at all. Please email me if you're interested in anything! My email is: interiorsbydeb2@aol.com


Here they are--
Prairie Schooler: Woodland Sampling, Garden Beasties, Wedding & Birth Samplers III, M,N,O,; and Designer Series - Forget Me Not
Forever in my Heart: Sophie's Heart Sampler
CHS: A New England Village, Live w/the Creatures, Elijah's Angel, Stitcher's Prayer, Miss Lila's House, Log Cabin Cat, The Fox and the Hare
Indigo Rose: Jester's Bliss ....and the "Aunts" series....
Bittersweet House, Samplers of the Past and Present: Rebekah Vollintine, Circa 1740
Blackbird Designs: Pumpkin Blossom Needle Case {traded}
Paw Prints: Malachite Blackwork (sampler and fob), Butterflies in Bloom (sampler and fob), Christmas Cardinal Egg (bird and holly)
Chatelaine Designs: Mini Mandala series, Taj Mahal, many other earlier charts such as the Elements

Here are some of my wishlist:
Just Nan: Bluebird (sewing box)
Sheepish Designs: "Against Every Sin"
Primitive Traditions: Ladyes Pocket Needfuls
Workbasket: Fancy Peacock Pinkeep
Beardie Designs: Paradise Box
Lilybet Designs: Lady Violet, and other designs *Traded for it!
Little by Little: Tisket a Tasket
*Prairie Schooler: S, T, U *Broke down and bought this one! :)
Cherished Stitches: February Box
Mirabilia: Miss New Year Fairy

PS: I do have other charts for trade that are not listed for lack of space and time.... @sk me!!!

Hugs,
Deb